Method of assembling strips of wood

ABSTRACT

The method of assembling strips of wood comprises strips of wood ( 1, 2 ), the strip ( 2 ) having a trapezoidal groove ( 3 ) that collaborates with a corresponding tongue made in the strip ( 1 ), and which strips are bonded together, the strip ( 2 ) comprising a triangular groove ( 4 ) which collaborates, leaving a space, with the corresponding groove made in the strip ( 1 ), the space being filled in with a food-grade sea ( 5 ).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a method of assembling strips of wood, and more particularly of assembling strips of wood constituting a square or rectangular cask.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Square or rectangular casks were developed for the wine-making process with an economic goal. Indeed, traditional barrel-shaped casks comprise curved strips of wood, which requires a complete and costly replacement of the cask upon each wine-making process in order to obtain the same tannin each year produced by the wood of the cask. Square or rectangular casks have the advantage of being made of straight strips of wood. This design has the advantage of being made up of a basic structure in stainless steel, for example, on which the straight strips of wood are mounted. This advantage consists primarily of the fact that after each wine-making process, it suffices to replace the strips of wood unlike conventional circular casks, which require a complete replacement of the cask. The economic advantage consists of the fact that, on one hand, it is less costly to manufacture straight strips than curved strips, and on the other hand that only the strips must be changed for a new wine-making process.

However, the design with straight strips presents a significant problem, which is the connection at the sealing site of each 90° angle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aim of the present invention is to resolve the aforementioned problem.

The aim is achieved according to the principle defined by claim 1.

The method of assembling strips of wood, according to the inventive principle, is made up of grooves and tongues which are formed at each end of the strips, the tongues and grooves having particular shapes making it possible to perform double bonding. Grooves and tongues with trapezoidal shapes and grooves and tongues with triangular shapes.

The grooves and tongues with trapezoidal shapes are intended for fastening bonding, i.e. wood bonding. The triangular tongues have play in which an elastic food-grade seal is introduced during assembly. The food-grade seal, a food-grade silicone seal for example, makes it possible to ensure that the wood bonding does not come into contact with the liquid, for example wine, which completely eliminates the risks of altering the liquid and its taste.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The appended drawing diagrammatically illustrates, as an example, the inventive principle.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the assembly between the transverse and longitudinal strips of wood.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In reference to FIG. 1, a longitudinal strip of wood 1 has, at one of its ends, a trapezoidal groove 3 and a triangular groove 4. A transverse strip of wood 2 has, at its end, a trapezoidal tongue which is intended to collaborate with the trapezoidal groove of the longitudinal strip of wood 1 and comprises, at its end, a triangular tongue which is intended to collaborate with a space with the triangular groove formed in the longitudinal strip of wood. Upon assembly, a wood bond is introduced into the trapezoidal groove 3 and a food-grade seal 5 is introduced into the triangular groove 4 so as to fill in the space between the triangular groove and the rectangular tongue. In this way, the wood bond keeps the wood strips fixed at each of their ends and the food-grade seal, food-grade silicone for example, guarantees complete sealing and also prevents the wood bond from coming into contact with the liquid 7, wine for example.

A screw 6 is secured to the strips so as to secure the bonding assembly mechanically. 

1-2. (canceled)
 3. A method of assembling strips of wood made up of grooves and tongues formed at each end of the strips, wherein one of the grooves is a trapezoidal groove, the other groove being a triangular groove, the trapezoidal groove collaborating with a corresponding tongue by bonding, the triangular groove collaborating, with a space filled in by a food-grade seal, with a corresponding triangular tongue, the assembly being mechanically secured by screws.
 4. The assembly method, according to claim 3, wherein the food-grade seal is elastic. 